Romney Arizona co-chair steps down

Embattled Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu, who is facing explosive allegations that he and his attorney tried to intimidate a former lover by threatening deportation, on Saturday quit his position as an Arizona co-chairman of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's presidential campaign.

“Sheriff Babeu has stepped down from his volunteer position with the campaign so he can focus on the allegations against him," Romney spokesman Ryan Williams told The Arizona Republic in a statement. We support his decision."

The salacious details of the charges against Babeu are here. The sheriff, who is also running for Congress, held a conference call with Iowans last November to attack Rick Perry on immigration, and also recorded pro-Romney robo-calls on the subject. Readers may remember him best as the bald-pated lawman walking alongside John McCain in his famous "complete the danged fence" ad in 2010.